North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach up Carn Mor Dearg: route map, distance and time
1,220 m · Highland
Carn Mor Dearg is a 1220m Munro facing the north face of Ben Nevis, linked to it by the narrow Carn Mor Dearg Arête.
A path climbs through forest into the Allt a' Mhuilinn. Steep slopes lead onto the ridge, which runs south over Carn Dearg Meadhonach to the summit.
North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach at a glance
| Distance | 6.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 1,175 m |
| Time up | 3h 15m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | North Face car park (Torlundy) |
| Start grid reference | NN 144 764 |
| Summit grid reference | NN 177 721 |
North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
How long North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 3h 45m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 3h 15m | 4h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 4h 0m | 5h 35m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:59, sunset 18:10. Start by 12:35 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 08:01, sunset 18:08. Start by 12:33 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Carn Mor Dearg summit weather for this route
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Good Today Sunday 18 October
Clear sky, up to 3°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -7°C, summit wind 10 mph gusting 22 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:59, sunset 18:10.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Mostly dry, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 28 mph gusting 35 mph, 12% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 08:01, sunset 18:08.
Best day of the next seven for North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 22 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 89% (Excellent), best around 07:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Carn Mor Dearg forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Carn Mor Dearg?
Before you go, also check: MWIS West Highlands forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · SAIS Lochaber avalanche report.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -7°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Carn Mor Dearg
Carn Mor Dearg is a 1220m Munro facing the north face of Ben Nevis, linked to it by the narrow Carn Mor Dearg Arête. More about Carn Mor Dearg, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Munro, Marilyn.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Carn Dearg Meadhonach (1,179 m), 0.5 km north
- Ben Nevis (1,345 m), 1.4 km south-west
- Aonach Mor (1,220 m), 1.7 km north-east
- Carn Dearg (1,221 m), 1.8 km west
- Aonach Beag (1,234 m), 2.1 km east
- Stob Coire Bhealaich (1,101 m), 2.7 km south-east
Challenges that include Carn Mor Dearg
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NN 144 764, the summit at NN 177 721), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach: questions and answers
How far is North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach?
North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach is 6.5 km one way to the summit of Carn Mor Dearg, with 1,175 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.0 km.
How long does North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach take?
About 3h 15m to the summit of Carn Mor Dearg and 4h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 5h 35m for the round trip.
Where do you park for North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach?
North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach starts from North Face car park (Torlundy). The grid reference is NN 144 764.
Is North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first.
What time should I start North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach today?
By 12:35 at the latest. Sunset on Carn Mor Dearg today is 18:10, North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach takes about 4h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for North Face car park via Carn Dearg Meadhonach?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).